Cincinnati Zoo wins best zoo light display for 8th straight year

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has once again earned the title of the people’s favorite zoo lights display in the United States, marking the eighth consecutive year it has topped the list.

The title comes from USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice poll, which tallies votes from readers across the country. An expert panel nominated the 10 zoos in the running. 

Cincinnati has now won the vote every year since 2018.

“During the annual PNC Festival of Lights, 5 million LED lights illuminate the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Visitors can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, marvel at the Wild Lights show on Swan Lake, watch a blacklight puppet show, munch on s’mores, or ride through a light tunnel on the North Polar Express train,” 10Best editors said.

Rounding out the rest of the top 10 are several Midwest zoos, including St. Louis (No. 7), Indianapolis (No. 9) and Detroit (No. 10), as well as multiple Ohio attractions – Toledo Zoo (No. 3) and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (No. 6).

The rest of the top 10 includes: No. 2: Electric Safari at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Wyoming, No. 4: Zoo Lights at San Antonio Zoo, No. 5: Memphis Zoo Lantern Festival and No. 8: Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia, South Carolina.

“Eight years in a row is a big deal!” said Zoo Director Thane Maynard. “People really love our holiday events, especially the PNC Festival of Lights.”

Lights, lanterns and holiday magic

Part of the zoo’s enduring appeal, Maynard said, comes from continual updates: “We make improvements each year, including adding more lights in more areas of the park.”

Now in its 43rd year, the festival features newly illuminated habitats like Elephant Trek and Bear Ridge, along with 26 lifelike animal lanterns – including a giant peacock, black bear, cheetahs, snow leopard and poison dart frogs. Visitors can also enjoy the choreographed fountain display, “The Wild Lights Lake Show,” set to holiday favorites such as “Carol of the Bells” and “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” The zoo team added 14 more light fixtures along Swan Lake’s shoreline, making the experience even brighter.

While the various 5 million LED lights on display are the main attraction, guests can still explore some of the zoo’s 400-plus animal species and 3,000 plant species. Many reside in the indoor habitats – Night Hunters, Manatee Springs, Reptile House, Gorilla World, Dragons, Jungle Trails West and Discovery Forest – that remain open during evening festival hours. Most outdoor animals move indoors around 5 p.m., so visitors should arrive earlier to see them roaming.

“Each year, we aim to make the holiday showcase more spectacular,” said Sydney Boudreaux, the zoo’s special events manager.

Visitors can also snap photos, enjoy glow swings and ride the all-electric North Polar Express Train, which now runs through a brand-new, extra-long light tunnel for an even brighter experience. Guests can wander through Zoo-ville, inspired by “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” stroll the rainbow tunnel, hunt for Fiona the hippo’s fairy statues in Fiona’s Fairyland and explore the immersive “Under the Sea” area. Santa is on hand daily starting at 4 p.m.

The PNC Festival of Lights runs through Jan. 4, 2026.

“From dazzling new displays to returning favorites, there’s something for everyone this holiday season,” Boudreaux said. “Every detail is designed to create a truly magical experience for visitors of all ages.”

Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights